Game



F. TENNE'Y.

GAME.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- 22, 1919.

l,4%7,185. I g-29,192i2.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I- F. TENNEY.

GAME.

ABPLICATION FILED DEC.22, I9]?- 1 42127, 1 35 Patented Aug. 29, 1922?.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. TENNEY.

GAME.

. APPLICATION FILED 02c. 22, 1919. I 1 ,4Z; %?,135, Patented Aug. 291922.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

F. TENNEY.

GAME.

APPLICATION FILED 050.22, 1919.

1 A27, 1 85, Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

W/Z 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

F.TENNEY.

, GAME.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22. 1919.

1 32?, 1 35, Patented Aug-29,1922.

SSHEET 5.

5 SHEET FRED TENNEY, OF DONCASTER, ENGLAND.

GAME.

Application filed December 22, 1919. Serial No. 346,628.

To all 1.0720122, it may concern:

Be it known that l, Flinn TnNNnY, ot 26 Buckingham Road, Doncaster,England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Games; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same.

The present invention relates to apparatus for use in connection withgames, and has for its object to provide apparatus, by the aid of which,various new games of chance, skill, or judgment, or the combination 0tall three, may be played tor the purposes of amusement and recreation.The apparatus forming the subject matter of the present invention hasbeen particularly devised tor use in connection with indoor games, andthe manner in which it is used, or operated, will to a large extentdetermine the degree of chance or skill. entering into the game, as willhereinafter appear.

The apparatus essentially comprises a stationary part or board, and arotatable disc iounted thereon and having a concave upper surface uponwhich a ball, or similar object, may be placed when desired. Thestationary board is provided. circumferentially in relation to the discwith a plurality of holes or compartments, to each ot which may beallotted a scoring value, which may advantageously be marked on theboard adjacent thereto.

The general principle of the use and op eration oi the apparatus is asfollows 2 The disc is rotated by hand, with or without the aid oimechanical means, or by means of an electric or clockwork motor. Suchrotation may be intermittent or continuous, so that the disc eitherrotates with gradually decreasing velocity, or rotates at anapproximately constant speed. During rotation of the disc a ball, orsimilar object, is placed by a player on the disc near the centrethereof, preferably within a. particular area marked on the surface ofthe disc. In consequence of the motion and shape of the disc the ball iscaused to describe a spiral path round the disc until centrifugal forceovercoming the force of gravitation, which tends to cause the ball toroll towards the centre of the disc,

compels the ball to fall off the edge of the disc into one of the holesor compartments in the stationary board. The value appertaining to thatparticular compartment represents the players score for the ball soplayed.

If the disc is only rotated at intervals the speed of the rotation ofthe disc will gradually decrease, and consequently, the action on ballsplayed consecutively will be diii'en ent. For this reason there is avery small chance of more than one ball in any game if ing oil the discat precisely the same point.

It the disc is rotated continuouslyat an approximatelyconstant speed theelement of chance is somewhat reduced, so that skill and judgment mayadvantageously 3e used in placing the ball on the disc in. such a manneras to cause it to fall oil the disc at the required point.

However, in either case a small variation in the point 011? contact 05!.a ball with the disc will cause quite a large difference between thepoints on the edge of the disc where the ball will fall oil, so thatthere is again a very small chance of consecutively played balls'lalling oil the disc at the same point.

an .1 i .4 1:

inc degree 0L curvature ol the sin race 01. the disc will control theperiod of time for which the ball will remain on the disc, andconsequently will to a large extent control the dia iiculty of play,owing to the fact that the larger the curvature the longer will be thepath described by the ball before it reaches the edge of the disc and isdischarged into a hole or compartment.

If no skill or judgment is used in placing the ball on the disc the gamewill become entirely a question of chance, but skill, or judgment may beused as a result of careful observation of the behaviour oi the ball inrelation to the speed of rotation of the disc. Constant practice wouldprobably enable the game to be played with a considerable degree ofaccuracy by a skilled player.

A large variety of different games may be devised in which the apparatusmay be used and certain suitable games will be hereinafter mentioned anddescribed.

The invention also comprises certain features of construction which willhereinafter appear from the following description with reference to theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example certainexamples of apparatus constructed according to the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figures 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a planview, a side elevation, and a vertical cross sectional view, of anexample of apparatus wherein the disc is adapted to be spun directly byhand. v

Figure 4 is a plan view of the lower surface of the disc shown inFigures 1, E2 and 3.

Figures 5 and 6 are a plan view and a vertical cross sectional viewrespectively of a modified form of disc.

Figures 7 and 8 are similar views of another modified form of disc.

vFigures 9 and 10 are a plan view and a vertical cross sectional view ofan example of apparatus wherein the disc is adapted to be rotated byhand continuously with the aid of mechanical means.

Figure 11 is a vertical. cross sectional view of a modification of theexample of apparatus shown in Figures 9 and 10.

. Figure 12 is a vertical cross sectional View of an example ofapparatus wherein the disc is adapted to be spun intermittently by handwith the aid of mechanical means.

Figure 13 is an inverted plan View of the apparatus shown in Figure 12with the lower cover removed to show the mechanism.

Figures 14- and 15 are respectively a plan view and an elevation to anenlarged scale, of a detail of the mechanism of the apparatus shown inFigures 12 and 13.

Figure 16 is a detail view, to an enlarged scale,illustrating amodificati on of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.

Figure 17 is a sectional view illustrating a further modification of theapparatus shown in Figures 1 to 41- inclusive.

' Figure 18 is a sectional view illustrating a combination of the twomodifications illustrated by Figures 16 and 17, and

Figure 19 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale of an attachmentwhich may be used with the apparatus for games of chance only.

All the examples of apparatus shown in the drawings comprise essentiallya stationary part or board 1, and rotatably mounted thereon a disc 2upon which a ball, or the like, is adapted to be placed for play. Thesurface of the disc is preferably covered with a cloth covering, asgreen baize, or the like, and has a ring 3 marked thereon within whichthe ball must be placed for play. The'upper surface of this disc isconcave so that when at rest a ball placed thereon naturally rollstowards the centre of the i and consequen disc under the action ofgravity. The stationary board 1 extends beyond the edge of the disc andis provided with an annular upturned flange l surroundingthe disc'andconcentric therewith. This flange serves to retain the ball upon theboard 1 when it is thrown from the disc. Between the flange 4 and theedge of the disc 2 the board is provided with a sloping annular surfacea which extends nearly to the upper surface of the disc 2. The annularchannel between the sloping surface a and the flange" 4- is formed witha plurality of compartments, or

holes, Z9, arranged concentric with the disc 2 and adapted to receiveand retain a ball perfectly level, and for this purpose the board. 1 isprovided with three adjustable feet 5 which may be screwed in or out ofthe board 1 until a true level obtained.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the disc 2 is secured to aspindle 6 which passes through a hole in the board 1 and is rotatabletherein. The upper end of the spindle is provided with a milled head bywhich the disc may be rotated with the thumb and fingers. In order toeliminate friction. as far as possible the spindle is journalled in aball bearing 7 which is mounted in the hole in the board 1, and at itslower end. is formed, or provided, with a point 8 which rests androtates in a correspondingly shaped bearing block 9 secured by means ofa bracket 10 to the underside of the board. 1. The adjustable feet 5upon which the board 1 is supported each comprises a sphen ical memberhaving a screwed shank which is adapted to screw into a socket 11 letinto the underside of' the board 1.

The disc 2 may be made of any suitable material, but it is preferablefor it to have sufficient weight to produce momentum enough to enable itto run fora considerable time when once rotated. For this purpose it maybe made of metal, but if made of wood it is preferably provided on itsunderside with an annular ring of metal 12 near to its periphery so thatits peripheral weight,

tly its momentum, may be increased. I

If it is desired to introduce a greater degree of chance into the gamethe surface of the disc may be modified in the manner illustrated byFigures 5 and 6, the surface of the disc being provided with one or moreconical projections 13 which serve as obstacles for the ball in itspassage over the surface of the disc. Alternatively the surface of thedisc may be modified as shown in Fig ures 7 and 8, according whereto oneor more circular depressions 1 are formed in the surface of the disc,which similarly act obstacles and render the path of the ball erratic.

Alternative to modifying the surface of the disc the element of chancemay be increased by using balls which are not truly spherical, and/orare biased on one'side by means of a weight, in a manner similar to thatwell known in connection with the balls used in the game of bowls.

Referring to Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings, the spindle 6 is securedto the stationary board 1, and the disc 2 is secured to a sleeve whichis rotatable on the said spindle 6 and supported by a metal bearingwasher 15. To the sleeve is attached or secured a pulley wheel 16 whichis connected by a driving band 17' to another pulley wheel 18 mounted ona spindle 19 projecting from an extension 20 of the board 1. This pulleywheel 18 is rotatable on its spindle 19 and is adapted to be rotated byhand by means of a handle 21. Suitable channels are formed through theboard 1 for the iassa 'e of the drivin band 17. In order to prevent thedisc 2 from rising from off the spindle 6 a set screw 22 may be providedwhich is screwed into the spindle 6 and, projectin over the edgethereof, forms an abutment I01 the upper edge of the sleeve 15.

The exampleshown in Figure 11 of the drawings is provided with modifiedmeans for driving the disc. In this case the sleeve 15 to which the disc2 is secured is provided with a bevel gear 23 adapted to mesh withanother bevel gear 24: mounted on a driving shaft 25 which is journalledin a tube 26 secured in a suitable hole formed in the board 1. The outerend of the shaft 25 is provided with a crank handle 27 by which it maybe rotated.

The examples shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11 are particularly adapted foruse when it is desired to rotatethe disc 2 continuously by hand duringplay. By this means the velocity of rotation of the disc may bemaintained approximately constant, and consequently it is easier to useskill and judgment in playing the balls.

Referring to Figures 12, 13, 14- and 15 of the drawings, the disc 2 isadapted to be rotated by hand intermittently as and when desired'withthe aid of mechanical means. The mechanical means are adapted to givethe disc a higher speed of rotation than would be obtained by means ofthe thumb and lingers applied to the end of the disc spindle, as in theexample illustrated by Figures 1, 2 and 3, and is particularly devisedfor use in connection with the larger sizes of apparatus wherein thedisc 2 may be of considerable size and weight.

The method of mounting the disc and .its spindleis exactly similar tothat described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, and need not befurther described. llnstead however of providing the spindle 6 at itsupper end with. a milled head by which it may be rotated by hand, itisprovided immediately below the ball bearingwith a ratchet wheel 28suitably secured thereto, Immediat ly below the ratchet wheel is mountedon the spindle a disc 29 which has pivoted thereon a pawl 30 normallypressed into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel by one endof a spring 31 which is secured to the disc 29 at its other end. Belowthe disc is also mounted on the spindle a toothed gear wheel 32. Thedisc 29 and the gear wheel 32 are integral with each other, or suitablyattached together, and are both freely rotatable on the spindle 6, apartfrom the limitations imposed by the pawl and ratchet gear 28, 30. Itwill be clear that rotation of the gear wheel 32 in one direction willcause rotation of the spindle 6 through the intermediary of the pawl andratchet gear, whilst rotation in the opposite direction will not affectthe spindle owing to the pawl 30 slipping over the teeth of the ratchetwheel 28. Similarly when the indie 6 and the disc 2 secured thereto arerotating the wheel 32 may remain stationary without interfering with themotion of the spindle and disc.

The gear wheel 32 is adapted to be rotated by means of a toothed.quadrant 33, pivoted at 34 to the under side of the stationary board 1.The quadrant 33 is normally held out of mesh with the gear wheel 32 bymeans of a tension spring 35 secured to the stationary board 1, and isadapted to be ro tated through an angle of about 90 by means of aconnecting rod 36, and a crank i 7. The crank 37 is secured to the lowerend of a spindle 38 mounted in a suitable bearing tube 39 secured to "anextension 44) of the board 1. 0n the upper end of the spindle 33 ismounted a suitable hand wheel device 41, which may be rotated by hand asand when desired.

In order to hold the gear wheel 32 and the pawl disc 29 in position, apin, or the like, 4-2 may be passed through the spindle 6, a washer d3being interposed between such pin and the lower side of the gear wheel Asuitable cover 14: is provided for the lower part of the board 1 toenclose the driving mechanism, and in order to relieve the'point bearingof the spindle 6 from the lateral thrust exerted by the action of thequadrant 33, there is fixed to the cover 14,

a plate 45 having formed therein a hole very slightly larger than thediameter of the spindle 6.

In using this apparatus the hand wheel device 41 is given by hand asuccession of oscillatory rotary movements,- whereby the quadrant 33 isreciprocated in contact with the gear wheel 32. Owing to the ratchetgear the rearward movements of the quad-' rant impart motion to the disc2, whilst the forward movements under the action of the spring 35 areinoperative. By this means the speed of rotation of the d'isc'may beworked up to any suitable and desired high speed, and the discmay thenbe allowed to run perfectly freely with gradually diminishing speeduntil it either comes to rest, or until it is desired to again increaseits speed. p

In Figure 16 is illustrated a modification which may be applied to theapparatus shown for example in Figures 1 to- 4 inclusive, for thepurpose of working up a higher speed of rotation of the disc than can beobtained by the plain milled head provided on the spindle 6. With theplain milled head practically only one spinning impulse can convenientlybe given. with the thumb and fingers, whereas by means of the deviceillustrated in Figure 16, a succession ojli spinning impulses mayconveniently be imparted to the disc, in a manner analogous to thatdescribed in reference to Figures 12 and 13. 1

According to this modification the upper end of the spindle 6 isprovided with. a

ratchet wheel $17 secured thereto, and with a hollow cylindrical member18 (shown in the drawing to an enlarged scale) rotatably mountedthereon, and held from upward displacement by a head 19 provided on theend of the spindle 6. The periphery of the member 48 is preferablyroughened or milled to provide a good grip for the fingers and thumb,and mounted in the interior thereof on a pivot 50 is provided a catch orpawl 51. The lower end of the pawl 51 is adapt ed to extend throughaslot in-the bottom of the member 48 and to engage with the teeth of theratchet wheel 17 under the action of a spring 52"which is secured at oneend on the tail part of the pawl 51 and bears with its other curved endagainst the spindle 6.

It will be readily understood that when the member 18 is rotated by thefingers and thumb in one direction the pawl 51 engaging with the teethof the ratchet wheel 4-.7

rotates the spindle f6 and thereby the disc 52, whilst it the member 48is held stationary,

or rotated in the reverse direction, the pawl 51 ridesover the teeth ofthe ratchet wheel, and does not in any way affect the rotation of thespindle 6 and the disc 2. By this means a succession of impulses may begiven to the disc 2 byrepeated oscillatory rotary movements given tothe: member 48, until the desired speed of rotation isobtained.

' As a modification of the above construction instead of arranging thepawl 51 and spring 52 within the cylindrical member 48, they may bedisposed r pen the lower circular end of the member 18 in a mannersimilar to that illustrated by'Figures Hand 15.

Two further modifications which may be applied to the apparatus shown inFigures 1 to 41: inclusive are illustrated respectively by Figures 17and 18." I I In the construction according to these modifications thespindle or pivot 6 for the disc 2 is secured to the upper surface of thestationary board 1, instead of being secured to the disc 2. The disc 2is secured to a metal sleeve 53 which is'formed at its lower end withinthe thickness of the disc 2, with a ball bearing cage 54-. The internaldiameter of the sleeve 53 is such as to enable I longitudinaldisplacement of the sleeve with-.

on the spindle 6.

In the construction illustrated by Figure 17 the upper end of the sleeve53 is provided or tormedwith amilled head 55 by means of which the disc2 is adapted to be spun when desired by the thumb and fingers in amanner similar to that described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3.

In the construction illustrated by Figure 18, which is a combination ofthat desiribed with reference to Figures 16 and 17, the sleeve 53 hassecured thereto a ratchet wheel 17, and has loosely mounted thereon apawl carrying cylinder 18 similar to thatdescribed with reference toFigrui'e 16. The upper end of the sleeve is reduced in dian'ieter inorder to form a shoulder torthe support of the lower end of the cylinder48, and a set screw 59 is provided in the upper end of the sleeve 53,for the purpose of retaining the cylinder 18 in position on the sleeve53. For this purpose the head 01" the set screw is sufliciently large toproject beyond the out interfering with its rotary movement edge of thesleeve 53 and thereby form a I cup is open at both ends but is providedat its upper end with a ring 61 connected to the rim of the cup byspider arms 62. The ring 61 is adapted to fit loosely round the spindle6 or sleeve 53, and serves to maintain the cup centrally on the disc. Inusing this attachment the cup 10 is placed on the disc with the ring 61surrounding the spindle G or sleeve 53 and each player places in the cupone or more balls of a distinctive colour. The disc is then setspinnine; and when a sufficient speed has been attained the cup israised by hand from the surface of the disc and the balls fallingthrough the lower end thereoil are projected from the surface of thedisc entirely by chance into the holes or compartments Z) in thestationary board 1. l

The halls used in connection with apparatus according to this inventionmay be of any suitable material, as glass. wood, ivory, and they may becoloured distinctively so that all the balls of a particular colour maybe allotted to a particular player. lheir size may vary according to thesize of the apparatus with which they are to be used, but for anyparticular apparatus they will obviously be of a size suitable forengagement in the holes or compartments in the stationary board. Ashereinbe'fore indicated, if skill and judgment is to be part of the gamethey must be truly spherical, whilst it the game is to be purely one ofchance, the balls may be weighted on one side, and /or may be slightlyflattened on one side. If desired they may be provided with a pluralityof flat sides so as to render their action still more erratic.

In connection with a game'which may be played with this apparatus, thestationary board may be marked in the manner indicated on Figure 1 ofthe drawings. In this case the circumference oil the board is dividedinto four equal parts, each having thirteen compartments to correspondwith the thirteen cards of the four suits of a pack of ordinary playingcards. The compartments are allotted values corresponding to the usualplaying cards of a suit, and may be arranged in any desired order. Atrump suit may be selected in any desired manner, and any score made inthat suit may be allotted double or other increased value. Forconvenience the suit which for the time being is the trump suit may beindicated on the board by means of a small marker 0 which may be placedin a small hole provided in the centre of each bined. predominate.

sector on the periphery of the board. Any convenient number of playersmay play the game, and a suitable number of balls may be allotted toeach. The disc is then-r0- tated until a fair speed is obtained,and eachplayer then plays his balls by placing them one at a time on the disc,the score being obtamed by the addition otthe values allotted to thecompartments into which the balls become lodged. Each player may playhis balls consecutively, or they may be played alternately by theseveral players, according to the rules which maybe established lfor theparticular game to be played.

If this-apparatus, with the board marked shown in Figure1corrcspond1ng.toa

pack of ordinary playing cards-is used in conjunction with all, or .aportion of, the cards of a pack of playing cards, a great number ofadditional games of a very interesting nature canbe devised, thusopening out-a new field for theuse of playing cards.

Also, the board, instead of, or in addition to b61110 markedas shown inFigure 1, may

be mar ed off in sectors of different sizes and colours, and each sectorgiven a value relative to .its size-the less the size of the sector thegreater 1tsvalue, and vice versa.

Thus would the possibilities of thisappau'atus be still furtherincreased for the playing of a varietyot games where-the elements ofskill or chance or the two elements com- Suitable rules may be drawn upfor playing any desired game, and various games may be devised byalterations in the method of scoring, the method of spinning the disc,and in the order and method of placing the balls on the disc. Thegeneral principle of the apparatus will however remain the sameindependently of the various games for which it may be used, and manyother constructional forms may be devised without departing from thespirit of the invention.

What I claim is 1. A game apparatus comprising a stationary board, and arotatable disc mounted on said board and having a concave upper surface,said board having an annular channel concentric with said disc andpockets in the bottom of said channel spaced away from the edge of saiddisc and adapted to receive a ball thrown off from the surface of saiddisc.

2. A game apparatus comprising a stationary board, and a rotatable discmounted on said board and having a concave upper surface, said boardhaving an annular channel concentric with said disc, pockets in thebottom of said channel spaced away from the edge of said disc andadapted to receive a ball thrown or from the surface of said disc, and adownwardly inclined surface leading "from-the edge of the upper surfaceof the disc towards the pockets.

3. A game apparatus comprising a stationary board, a rotatable diskmounted on said board, a pluralityof ball receiving compartments in saidboard arranged circumferentially in relation to said disc, manuallyoperated means adapted to rotate said disc, said means including a pawland ratchet device whereby the disc is enabled to be given a successionof rotary impulses and to rotate freely without interference from theoperating means.

I l. A game apparatus comprising a stationary board, a rotatable discmounted on enabled to be given a succession of rotary impulses and torotate freely without inv terference from the operating means.

5. A game apparatus comprising a stationaryboard, a rotatable discmounted on said board, a plurality of ball receiving compartments insaid board arranged circumferentiailly in relation to said disc, aspindle for said disc, a ratchet wheel secured to said spindle, a pinionloosely mounted on said spindle, a spring pressed pawl connected to saidpinion and adapted to engage said ratchet wheel, a segmental rackpivotally operated means adapted to reciprocate said segmental rack andthereby rotate said pinion and disc.

'6. Aga'me a1: paratus"comprising a stationary board, a rotatable discmounted on said board, a plurality of ball receiving co1n partments insaid board arranged cireumferentiallyinrelation to said disc, a spindlefor said disc, a ratchet wheel secured to said spindle, a pinion looselymounted on said spindle, a springp'ressed pawl connectedtosaid pinionand adapted to engage said ratchet wheel, a segmental. rack pivotallymounted on said board and adapted to cooperate with said pinion, springmeans adapted normally to hold said rack out of engagement with saidpinion, a connecting rod pivoted at one end to said segmental rack, acrank pivoted to the other end of said connecting rod a spindle for saidcrank, and means on said spindle whereby it is adapted for manualrotation.

' In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in'presence of twowitnesses.'

liltlill) TENN EY.

Witnesses I BERTHA LANE, ETHEL TENNEY.

